Justice of the Peace Robert "Bobby" Balderas has died, his office has confirmed.

The Democrat and longtime jurist died Wednesday around 11 a.m. at Doctors Regional Medical Center in Corpus Christi, according to Judy Skoruppa, his administrative assistant.

“We certainly want to remember him and the great job that he did here in Nueces County,” County Judge Loyd Neal said.

An agenda item will be brought to the Commissioners Court at its next meeting to appoint a successor to fill out the last five months of the Balderas’s term, Neal said.

“We’ll move on that very, very quickly,” he said. “I think you all know my suggestion is we have someone elected to that position. That’s probably going to be my recommendation, but it’ll be on the agenda next meeting.”

Randy Balderas, the judge's son, revealed on social media his father was diagnosed with Stage 4 liver cancer in May. Friends, family and his coworkers at the county responded with messages offering condolences.

The Nueces County Democratic Party also shared the news to its members by email late Wednesday afternoon.

"After a battle with cancer, Judge Robert "Bobby" Balderas has passed away," the message said.

Balderas, who was first elected in 2003, serves as justice of the peace for Precinct 1, Place 3. His court is in the Annaville area on Leopard Street near Violet Road.

Balderas was born and raised in Corpus Christi. He graduated from Moody High School in 1974, according to a biography on Nueces County’s website.

He began his career with the county at the courthouse as an elevator operator, until he joined the Nueces County Sheriff’s Office in 1975, the biography states.

He worked for the sheriff’s office until 2002 and was elected justice of the peace the next year.